Shopping

The best way to experience Southeast Wisconsin may just be via shopping excursions that not only introduce you to the inherent beauty of the five-county region, but also to its many unique specialty stores and shopping venues. Consider exploring downtown Wauwatosa in Milwaukee County, Waukesha in Waukesha County, or Port Washington in Ozaukee County for an old-fashioned, “Main Street” experience featuring a variety of specialized shops in historic buildings. Also, several southeastern Wisconsin communities have transformed their downtowns into go-to shopping destinations, including Cedarburg’s Bridge Road in Ozaukee County, Delafield’s Milwaukee Street in Waukesha County, Whitefish Bay’s East Silver Spring Drive in northern Milwaukee County and Greendale’s Broad Street in southern Milwaukee County. Malls and outlets feature top national brands, including Nordstrom, Michael Kors, Macy’s, Kate Spade New York, Pottery Barn, Apple, Crate & Barrel, Boston Store, The Container Store and Kohl’s. Exciting new retail, dining and entertainment developments are also springing up in the metro area, including The Mayfair Collection, Wauwatosa; Drexel Town Square, Oak Creek; The Corners of Brookfield; and 84South, Greenfield. The city of Milwaukee itself is a treasure trove of eclectic and trendy shops, with several shopping districts of note: The Historic Third Ward, just south of downtown; Cathedral Square on the East Side; and Downer Avenue, located just northeast of the downtown area.

The region is served by six regional shopping malls: Bayshore Town Center, Mayfair Mall, The Shops of Grand Avenue and Southridge Mall in Milwaukee County; Brookfield Square in Waukesha County and Regency Mall in Racine County. Looking for a bargain? Your best hunting grounds are the four major outlet malls located within a 40-minute drive – the new Mayfair Collection, Gurnee Mills, Pleasant Prairie Premium Outlets and Johnson Creek Premium Outlets.